Buffer assembly



1949. H. BURNHAM 2,480,217

BUFFER ASSEMBLY Filed June 1, 1948 Lee H.Bumham Y INVENTOR.

WW Z? Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES -PATENT OFFICE 7 2,480,217 v BUFFEIt assE'MBLY Lee H. B inham, North Platte, Nebr.

Application June 1, 1948, Serial No. 30,270

1 Claim. (01. 51-195) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bufilng and polishing heads, and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for bufling and polishing articles of work that includes novel and improved means for reducing the normal shock or vibration prevalent during the engagement of the bufiing head with an article that is to be polished by the same.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a bufiing and polishing head including a support, a cushion carried by the support, and a novel and improved surface engaging element carried by the cushion and so designed as to facilitate the same to engage surfaces which are otherwise difficult to reach.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a bufi'ing and polishing head so designed as to facilitate the same to assume the contour of irregular and curved surfaces which otherwise could not be properly contacted.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a device for bufling and polishing articles of work that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the buffing and polishing head constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the present bufling and polishing head and showing in dotted lines a driving member positioned relative thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l represents the present bufling and polishing head generally, including a fibrous, preferably wooden base plate or support l2. Projecting upwardly through a central, annular opening l4 provided in the support plate i2 is a sleeve Hi having an inner flange portion l8 which bears against the inner face of the support plate l2 and which is removably secured to the support plate 12 by a plurality of circumfer- I entially spaced fasteners 20 that extend through the flange l8 and the support plate i2.

Rigidly secured to the lower face of the support plate I2, by a suitable adhesive material or glue 22, is the upper face of a substantially annular cushion member or resilient disk 24, the central portion of which is formed with a recess 26 that engages the flanged portion l8 of the sleeve or adapter l6.

Secured to the lower face of the resilient disk 24, by a suitable glue or adhesive material 28, is the base portion 30 of a substantially conical surface-engaging element or pad 32 which is preferably constructed of a wool material. How ever, this pad 32 may be constructed of abrasive material or other such material which is used in polishing, bufiing or abrading surfaces of work. The circumferential edge 34 of the pad 32 project outwardly from the outer annular edges 36 and 3B of the respective resilient disks 24 and support plate 38, for a purpose which will later be more fully apparent.

In practical use of the present buffing and polishing head, the sleeve i6 is provided with diametrically opposed bayonet slots 401 that lockably engage outwardly projecting, diametrically opposed locking lugs (not shown) that form a part of a driving member or shaft 42. In this manner, the buffing and polishing head IE will be rotated or driven by the drive shaft or driving member 42. The conical shape of the pad 32 will facilitate the same to engage small crevices, recesses, dents or the like which would otherwise be difficult to engage with pads having fiat bearing surfaces. Further, the ends or annular edge 34 of the pad 32 may engage corners or irregular contours which would be difficult to reach should the said edge 34 terminate flush with the edges 36 and 38 of the cushion 24 and support plate 12. Obviously, the flexibility of the resilient cushion member 24 will permit the pad 32 to assume any desired shape and the same will also function to reduce the normal shock or vibration prevalent in the head l0 as the same is in use. Such a construction would obviously permit the sanding, polishing or buffing of articles of work, such as wood, metal or the like without there being an existent shock or vibration prevalent in the head which would affect the normal eflicient operation of the same by a user. The resilient disk 24 will also tend to prevent the pad 32 from becoming overheated during its frictional engagement with an article that is being worked, and, further, the cushion member 24 will provide a safe means for engaging close work without marring or scratching the same should the user accidentally rest the annular edge 36 of the cushion element 24 against the article being worked.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to? be; understood, h wevcem that men.

Having described the inventiomwhatis claimed).

as new is:

A bufiing and polishing head comprisinga, fibrous substantially annular support plate, a socketed member: fromsaid plate and: haw ing a flange. atoneend and. a, bayonet slot-theme in at the other end, a resilient disk secured to said support and depending therefrom, and a substantially conical surface engaging pad fixed to said resilient disk, said disk having a recess and having the flange at the end of said socketed member received in said recess and interposed between said support plate and said resilient disk.

LEE H. BURNHAM.

- REEERENGES CITED:

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 'Re: 91752 Winslow June 14, 1881 1,3325826; Hoficnan Mar. 9, 1920 1,645,947 Goodstein Oct. 11, 1927 EWZEME Hutto Aug. 5, 1930 1,775,230 Wacker etial Sept. 9, 1930 

